Rise and inspire, NDA cadets told

PUNE, Dec 6: ``India has always stood for peace and peaceful settlements, wars have been forced on us. Even in the current proxy war that...

PUNE, Dec 6: “India has always stood for peace and peaceful settlements, wars have been forced on us. Even in the current proxy war that has been thrust on us the nation stands united in its determination to make no compromises on its position. We remain ever vigilant in a firm stand consistent with justice,” said State Governor P.C. Alexander, in his address as reviewing officer of the National Defence Academy Passing Out Parade of the 95th course this morning at Khadakvasla.

He called for a “continuation of war against poverty” that would ensure a better quality of life for citizens. Maintaining that there could be no peace without security, Alexander called the Indian Armed Forces a symbol of “courage, nationalism and integrity” that had not just been defending the country but also protecting citizens in times of civil strife. He referred to the cadets as “sentinels of the nation and guards of territorial integrity.” “Go forth confident in the knowledge that you have received the finest academic and military training anywhere in the world,” he told the graduating cadets. He asked them to develop the highest level of professional competence and integrity to inspire their men and help them fare well even in the inhospitable conditions that the defence forces have to work in.

Meanwhile, the early morning winter mist lifted off the NDA Parade Ground to the sound of “Ham NDA Ke Cadet’ played by the band accompanying 1012 cadets who marched across in their Blue Patrols. Drill boots beating a rhythm of their own, led by a sword yielding Academy Cadet Captain Sudhakar Thakur, the boys took their place as Adjutant Major JS Nehra rode past on his white charger Romeo, who carried himself with the elan of a veteran, participating in his tenth parade.

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“For every cadet this parade marks a turn from a young boy to a leader of men” gushed a commentator, even as Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, NDA Commandant, smartly marched up to the saluting dias, pertinently proving the point, having himself passed out from Khadakvasla in June 1964. The reviewing officer’s arrival in the traditional `buggi’ and subsequent review of the immaculately turned out parade was accompanied by the band changing tunes from `Amar Senani’ to `Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’.

The President’s gold medal was presented to Cadet P.K. Malik, silver medal to to ACC Sudhakar Thakur and the bronze to BCC Deepak K Singh. K Squadron was judged the champion squadron and presented with the Chiefs of Staff banner.

Even as three MiG 29 burst forth from behind the NDA fort in a symbolic farewell, the passing out cadets slow-marched in threes over the Quarter Deck manned by their juniors in white to the haunting strains of “Auld Lang Syne”.